There’s no better gift for a special occasion than a quilt made by a group of friends. The McCall’s Quilting team shows 2 such quilts in our new magazine America Quilts Together, given as gifts in support and well-wishing. Both are scrappy, with color schemes controlled by group guidelines agreed on before the cutting and sewing began. If you want to make a “team effort” quilt, why not start with the recipient’s favorite colors? Your circle of friends will be on their way to a successful gift quilt.

Cascade Quilt from America Quilts Together

For the Cascade quilt, each staff member pieced a number of strippy, scrappy 10 1/2˝ squares, which were used to make the blocks and also cut into segments for the pieced border.

Acts of Kindness quilt is another strip-pieced beauty, made with cheerful fabrics, sure to please. Both patterns are in this issue now on newsstands.

Acts of Kindness Quilt made by the team for editor Kathy Patterson

We will be giving away 10 free issues to people commenting on this post, randomly chosen. (Contest ended 9/12/12.) The give-away will close on Wednesday morning, 9/12/12. Winner names will be announced here! Please click here for official giveaway rules.

The contest is over, thanks for playing, and here are the lucky winners!~

What an accomplished piece. I so enjoy seeing how scrappy blocks come together. So much stash can be used to make such beautiful quilts!! Thanks for sharing this wonderful quilt. Job well done by all involved. Happy Quilting.

I collaborated a quilt with my best friend, for another friend who was dying of cancer. It’s one of the best memories I have. We chose the recipient’s favorite and decorating colors. I designed the quilt, and taught my friend some new things as we spent time together. The look on the family’s face and our dear friend’s face, as we presented her with the quilt, was priceless and hard to keep back tears. She died just a few weeks later, and her daughter said she cuddled under it almost all the time until then, and over her lap when she passed. Quilting is about art, creativity, and togetherness, serving, and love, and I can’t wait to see the rest of the quilts in this magazine promoting togetherness!

I love the quilt “Cascade” and want to make it but a larger size (98″ x 108″). Could you tell me how this would be done?! And, if possible the amount of fabric for each color in the pic! Will be using different colors but knowing amts. you used would help in shopping! Thanks, Nan

Nancy, we’re sorry but we do not have the woman-power to redesign or resize quilt patterns for individual requests. The friendly folks at your local quilt shop may be able to help you. Happy stitching!